July 21, 2010

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The Senate decided Wednesday it didn’t want to interfere with the Obama administration’s lawsuit challenging Arizona’s strict new immigration law.

GOP Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and David Vitter of Louisiana introduced an amendment to a jobless benefits bill that would have barred federal funds from being used in any lawsuit seeking overturn the Arizona law. But the amendment failed 43-55, on a mostly party-line vote.

The vote came a day before a federal judge in Phoenix hears oral arguments in the Justice Department’s suit against the Arizona law, known as SB 1070. The law makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally, and requires police officers to check the immigration status of individuals they suspect are illegal immigrants.

President Barack Obama has called the law “misguided,” and the Justice Department — and others who are challenging the law in court — has argued that the state law usurps federal authority to enforce immigration laws.

Before the vote, DeMint argued that the Obama administration is suing Arizona for enforcing laws the federal government has chosen to ignore.

“This bill is very clear. It’s intent is to support and enforce the federal law, to protect the citizens of Arizona,” DeMint said on the Senate floor. “Our federal government should be doing its job to secure our borders rather than trying to bully and intimidate the people of Arizona. We should not be suing and really hassling the people of Arizona for doing what we should be doing here, and that is protecting the citizenry.”

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Newsflash the Political Correctness Police Force has issued an all points bulletin for the following people of interest. If you know of any racists who fit this updated definition and description ,please , notify the proper authorities immediately at 1-762-542-2258
You might be a racists if you think our Liberal leaders are wasting
too much of our your hard earned money.
You may be a racist if you tell anyone about it.
You may be a racist if you think our Government is out of touch with the average American
You may be a racist if you want the people in Washington to just leave you alone .
You may be a racist if you think people should quit expecting
Handouts from Washington..
You may be a racist if you would like to pay less in taxes.
You may be a racist if you like your current health care plan.
You may be a racist if you don’t trust the Government.
You may be a racist if you didn’t vote for Barack Obama.
You may be a racist if you think the Cambridge police acted intelligently.
You may be a racist if you don’t believe the Government should have bailed out Wall Street, Detroit, and the banks.
You may be a racist if you believe that 40 million people added to a Government run health plan with the same amount of doctors is going to lead to rationing of health care.
You may be a racist if you think our country is already too deeply in debt .
You may be a racist if you think you can work hard to get ahead so you can keep your own money.
You may be a racist if you watch Fox News.
You may be a racist if you think it’s your choice whether you share your money with the poor or not.
You may be a racist if you feel we need less Government in our lives.
You may be a racist if you think ACORN is a corrupt organization.
You may be a racist if you think Reverend Wright’s sermons were hateful
You may be a racist if you think people from minorities can be racists.
You may be a racist if you think America is a Christian Nation.
You may be a racist if you think we should not be apologizing to the Middle East for anything.
You may be a racist if you are in the Tea Party.
You might be a racist if you can think for yourself.
You may be a racist if you believe in the American Dream.
You may be a racist if you believe in working for a living.
You may be a racist if you believe In God We Trust.
And you probably are a racist if you believe that people that believe this are racist.
Remember to call 1-762-542-2258 or 1-#$#-KGB-ACLU to report these despicable criminals!

Americans are catching on to all you McCarthy wanna be race baiters.
You might be a race baiter if someone disagrees with you and you don't like their answer.
You might be a race baiter if you think you should get special privileges for nothing.
You might be a race baiter if you don't have an intelligent answer.
You might be a race baiter if you feel others shouldn't be allowed to disagree with you.
You might be a race baiter if you think the only bad color is White.
You might be a race baiter if you could never be anything else but a race baiter.
You might be a race baiter if it gives you joy to point out other peoples faults.
You might be a race baiter if you can look for the worst in others.
You might be a race baiter if you are a miserably unhappy person.
You might be a race baiter if you never plan to stop being a race baiter.

I really can't condemn the Senate for voting down an amendment to a small business bill that had nothing to do with small business. I wish they would do that with all the pork they manage to insert in other bills.
I condemn the cowardly Senate for not allowing a separate bill to be introduced that includes ONLY the provisions of the DeMint/Vitter amendment.

Why is okay for the Feds to hire 16,000 IRS agents to find, fine, and force citizens to buy their rationed Health Care but it is taboo to find and deport illegal immigrants?
Why is okay to post, and publish the names of lawbreaking citizens in police blotters, court docketts and newspaprers but it violates illegals rights to publish their names?
Someone explain this because It looks like illegal immigrants have more rights than citizens.

why not introduce an amendment to secure the border or to fine companies hiring illegals? Senators DeMint, Vitter, McCain and Kyl are playing politics here. They are a part of the Federal Government. Why are they not putting forth amendments to enforce border control? sad. so sad.

Posted By: why not introduce an amendment to secure the border or to fine companies hiring illegals? Senators | July 21, 2010 at 08:23 PM

Obama wants amnesty for ILLEGAL aliens. The majority of Americans do not, because we are expected to obey our country's laws, and require everyone to do the same. That's why Arizona has our support. Any further questions?

Referring to Aburr's comment: Well said! Maybe we'll be expected to GUESS which laws to follow, depending on what day of the week it is! You know, that might work for me. I can always refer them to the WH if there is an authority problem.

Maybe Arizona ought to file a counter suit against the federal government for failure to uphold our extant immigration laws. Not only are they unwilling to secure our borders at the border. They are (while the lawsuit against Arizona is making its way through the litigation channels) also perfectly fine with cities all over the U.S. offering "sanctuary" to illegal immigrants in the name of "immigrant rights."
Oh I doubt it's possible for Arizona to file such a suit, so liberals save your breath.
What do we make of all this? More and more, we're seeing PC trump the laws of our land. Our leaders don't seem to be bothered by the fact that the vast majority of Americans believe our laws (all of them) should be enforced or changed (and changed by Congress, not by some two-bit judge in a whack-left district). No, they seem to be more worried about the minority who might pitch a fit if they don't get their way.

What about Rhode Island, and their enforcement of the federal law without a state law of their own like Arizona? Worse in RI, they can ask for proof WITHOUT any criminal contact like Arizona requires. Where's the outrage against RI like the outrage against AZ?

Reply to Con: I don't know where you are getting your information from. Arizona is NOT enacting immigation laws, they are trying to ENFORCE Federal law to protect their citizens. Why do you have a problem with that?

Know Nothing Party lunatics says:
"Furthermore, the United States Constitution UNEQUIVACABLLY gives the federal government EXCLUSIVE authority over immigration."
Not quite. The Constitution grants exclusive federal authority to SET immigration policy, such as procedure for legal immigration procedures and quotas, NOT exclusive right to enforce the law.
Bank robbery is a federal crime. Are you suggesting that state and local law enforcement are prohibited from enforcing laws against it?
Who's the "Know Nothing" now?

Remember in November. Vote out all liberals and any incumbent facing a more conservative challenger. These bums still don't get it. And they still think we're too stupid to understand what they're doing. Remember in November.

SamAdams25, you are the one who knows nothing about this subject. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I also don't know anything about it. Why don't we ask the Supreme Court. Here what they said over a hundred years ago,

This is a quote from an article written by Monica Guizar in June 2007. Monica Guizar is an Employment Policy Attorney

"For over a century, the U.S. Supreme Court consistently has ruled that the federal government has broad and exclusive power to regulate immigration. Although the power to regulate immigration is not expressly enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, the federal government’s authority over immigration policy is supported by both enumerated and implied constitutional powers. Indeed, in a series of cases in the late nineteenth century upholding provisions of the Chinese Exclusion Acts, the Supreme Court described the federal immigration power in sweeping terms, as a plenary power not subject to normal judicial restraints. In subsequent decisions the Court has repeatedly confirmed Congress’s full and exclusive authority over immigration. State and local laws that attempt to regulate immigration violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and are therefore preempted by federal law."

Actually, deportations are up when compared to George W. The problem is with the law itself, not its intentions. The constitution is very clear that it is the Federal Governments job to handle immigration and, indeed, deportations are increased over Bushes terms.

It will be very interesting to see how it is decided, but I suspect the law is unconstitutional since other laws have been overturned because the laws required state officials to do a Federal job.

Posted By: Actually, deportations are up when compared to George W. The problem is with the law itself, not it | July 21, 2010 at 11:28 PM

@ Polgara; you are dead wrong. Arizona seeks to make being an 'illegal alien' a STATE crime - thereby requiring police make an arrest. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is already readying desert tents to house 'illegal aliens' prosecuted under the new law. OTOH, federal immigration stipulates that being an 'illegal alien' is a CIVIL (not criminal) violation. Hence, it hard to see how Arizona (my state) is just seeking to 'enforce federal law' - because the truth is that Arizona is seeking to enact its OWN immigration laws!

Posted By: @ Polgara; you are dead wrong. Arizona seeks to make being an 'illegal alien' a STATE crime - thereb | July 22, 2010 at 12:35 AM

How does the following provision of Arizonas immigration law 'mirror federal law'? Arizonas immigration law creates a cause of action for ANY person to sue a city, town or county if he or she feels the police are not stopping enough undocumented immigrants. Even if a municipality is innocent, it will still be forced to rack up exorbitant legal fees to defend itself against frivolous lawsuits.

Posted By: How does the following provision of Arizonas immigration law 'mirror federal law'? Arizonas immigrat | July 22, 2010 at 12:59 AM

Wow, could it be any clearer that the vast majority of the comments posted here are nothing more than cut&paste from a pre-prepared document? When the "name" of the commenter is a truncated copy of the first sentence of the post?
You trolls need to step up your game if you want to be effective.
On topic: While immigration laws have been widely viewed as a Federal responsibility, it is just that, a responsibility, not an option.
At this time, we have the Federal government suing a State for copying, almost verbatim, Federal law. At the same time the so-called Sanctuary cities (which are actually in violation of Federal law) are given a pass. Kinda shows the bias inherent in the Federal position, doesn't it?
While I support 110% legal immigration, that is not who we are concerned with in this matter. Illegal immigration, or undocumented foreign travelers as it was recently phrased, are the concern here.

To rob a bank is a federal crime. However, the FBI is not expected to respond to a bank robbery during its commission, local authorities do that. Then, the FBI comes in and takes the case and moves it through the federal court system. Arizona authorities enforcing federal illegal alien laws is no different. The feds cannot (or won't) be where they are needed all the time, so it takes real (local beat) cops to begin the process. Get it?

To Amazingoly @8:44AM: I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Arizona is not a sovereign state. Arizona may some day become one, but as of now, Arizona is a part of the Union. If and when Arizona secedes from the Union, then they can write and pass whatever immigration laws they choose. Until then, they will have to stick with the federal immigration law because that is why we have the federal government. Rhode Island is enforcing the federal immigration law and no one is suing them. Why? Because they are doing it the right way rather than playing this ridiculous game that Arizona is trying to do by passing federally mandated laws. Governor Brewer wanted to be a smart a_s_s and now the federal government is going to kick her a_s_s.

To rockrib @8:57AM: Please stop mixing criminal and civil violations and treating them as one. Crossing the Arizona border illegally is a civil violation. And even if it weren't, since Arizona cannot deport anyone, they still have to rely on the federal government to deal with illegal immigrants. So Arizona is planning to use their own law to arrest people, hold them in jail (face endless lawsuits for lack of probable cause) and then call the Feds anyway to come and pick them up. That was Governor Brewer's plan, right? Or they could have done what Rhode Island is doing by enforcing the existing federal law. This is what happens when people appoint governors who are not qualified for the job.

Obama called the law "misguided", without actually reading the law. Very similar to his administration firing Ms. Sherrod, without actually viewing the video tape. Sounds a lot like Obama signing ObamaCare and Financial 'Reform', ya know, without actually reading those bills.

What does reading the Arizona law have to do with the Constitution of the United States? If the federal government suspects that SB 1070 is unconstitutional, Governor Brewer could have submitted her favorite apple pie recipe as "Arizona Immigration Law". We are discussing states' vs. the federal government's constitutional powers to regulate immigration. What SB 1070 says or doesn't say, mirrors or does not mirror is totally irrelevant. If the Supreme Court decides that states cannot pass immigration laws, Arizona can Xerox the current federal immigration law and that law would still be unconstitutional.

Why does the Federal Government just simply do their job and protect the citizens of the USA?
If they would just serve and protect as the constitution calls for, there would be no need for all this crap that is going on now. And, Arizona would not have to try and defend the borders the Feds are supposed to be protecting.
Stop these political football games and vote everyone out! It's time to start over with some people who will protect and serve the people. Have we all forgot that it's of the people, by the people and for the people?
Sad times we live in these days.

To Geez, Your Sarah Palin comment says alot about you. Arizona is not trumping the federal government's responsibilty to regulate Immigration they are checking to see if you are in the country illegally. I can tell you are one of those that looks down at the everyday guy or gal that works hard for a living and spends most of his or her free time concentrating on Family. Most of the time that's called middle class. What is it with you're "I know better and much more" attitude that keeps you from at least seeing that Arizona is more concerned about US Citizens and legal immigrants than illegals. Maybe they aren't all right but at least they are trying. It would be different if the State of Airizona had check points along the border. That would be stepping on the federal side. You must be one of those real internally angry people.........

The federal government cannot do anything to protect Arizona until Arizona's local businesses stop hiring illegal immigrants. They keep hiring them so they can to pay them below minimum wage rates under-the-table. I'm quite certain that Arizona has its own laws enacted to regulate local employment practices. Why isn't Governor Brewer enforcing Arizona's own employment laws by closing down businesses that seek to hire illegal immigrants is a question that Arizonans should be asking themselves. If Governor Brewer would be so kind to enforce Arizona's own laws, there would be no illegal immigration in that state. No jobs, no illegal immigrants. It's that simple.

80% of the population agrees that the government should enforce our borders. You'd think that our representatives could run with that politically, but I guess the citizens are considered too stupid to get it. I would like to quote Thomas Jefferson: "An elective despotism is not the government we fought for." This issue amounts to sovereignty vs greed. It's not about racism.

To icecycle66 @ 2:06PM: Actually, it make perfect sense. Indeed you are paying twice because people of Arizona were not paying attention to what their local politicians were doing. Those politicians got in bed with local businesses and kept looking the other way instead of doing their job. State politicians and governments are there to pass and enforce state laws. This includes employment regulatory laws which, I'm sure, Arizona passed many years ago. Those laws are on Arizona's books, but they are not being enforced. If Arizonans are not willing to watch their own backyard, no one can watch it for them. Governor Brewer wanted to hide her failed policies (and to be fair, the same failed policies of her predecessors) and have the federal government foot the bill. So she passed this SB 1070 law hoping it will get enough attention to force the federal government to accept the responsibility and make it look like they are at fault for Arizona's illegal immigration problems. Then the next step would be to ask for federal funds to replenish Arizona's coffers since the federal government "failed" to protect Arizona from all those illegal immigrants draining the state's funds. This is a bunch of baloney and it will not work. Arizona can stop illegal immigration tomorrow by enforcing its own labor laws. If they choose not to, that is their problem, not a federal issue. Arizonans are free to keep reelecting those same politicians like Senators McCain and Kyl who haven't done a thing about illegal immigration for decades, but are now gung-ho about it. However, Arizonans should also remember that elections have consequences. You cannot set your house ablaze by barbecuing indoors and blame the fire department for it.

The same is true even if 100% of the population said what you said, Ms. Bromet. Failure to enforce one's own laws is not despotism. It is incompetence. Don't blame the federal government if states choose to disregard their own laws.

Maybe Arizona should raise its own Army to deal with this invasion
Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

As I said earlier, people crossing the Arizona/Mexico border illegally does not represent an "invasion". Technically, it is not even a crime. It is a civil violation. I do not believe that the Constitution of the United States was written to deal with issues like who stole whose chicken or whose kid got beat by a schoolyard bully.

I suppose we'll just have to start shooting the *******s, since the government won't do anything about the criminals taking over our country. The want to keep us in a perpetual state of war. Fine. It's going to be Americans defending themselves on U.S. soil from foreign invaders this time.

I guess we can ignore our responsibility to pay taxes. Why pay for our lack of representation?
Why bother with credit when it is a character assassination mill anyway. Why bother, let the illegals pick up the slack.

Arizona can sue the federal government for not fulfilling its constitutional responsibility and for failing to enforce its own laws. In this country, when someone feels that they have suffered damages due to someone else's actions (or in this case inaction), they sue. Individuals can sue, organizations can sue and yes, even states can sue. Everybody sues all the time. That is what Governor Brewer should have done if she felt or had a reason to believe that the federal government was not protecting the border. Arizona did not sue because state officials wanted to appease those who elected them by keeping the supply of illegal immigrants steady. Then when things got out of control, they cooked up SB 1070 in an attemopt to blame the federal government for everything. Poor us, we cannot wait for the Feds to rescue us, so we decided to draw attention to ourselves by passing an unconstitutional law. Governor Brewer is playing her own citizens and the rest of the country for fools. Well, this will all end soon in a courtroom and Governor Brewer will reap what she had sown. IMO, she should be thrown in jail for this mess she created.

As for ILLEGUAL THIS SO CALLED ILLEGUAL PRESIDENT
IS ILLEGUAL - HE WAS NOT BORN IN THEUNITED STATES OF AMERICA - HE HAS SEALED
ALL COLLEGE RECORDS AS ALSO HIS WIFE MICHELLE HE SHOULD BE THROWN OUT OF
OFFICE AND IMPEACHED AS I
AM WRITING THIS COMMENT. HE WAS BORN IN KENYA.

The US federal government needs illegal immigrants to maintain control and to promote their agenda. In fact they are taking control over everything from banks to automobiles to insurance to health to the waterways. Talk about tyrants. It is time for states and individuals to take back control from the federal government!

President Barack Hussein Obama stated the Arizona Immigration Law is “misguided and divisive” and fans the flames of discontent. However, the people that are outraged over the new law are most likely illegal immigrants or members of LaRaza, whose goal is to reclaim the southwest states.
Some people may say that Obama contradicted himself during his speech on Immigration (Amnesty). I say he was outright lying and again pitting the Federal Government against Arizona.The citizens of that state are living in fear due to the criminal activity from illegal immigration. Illegal immigration overburdens our legal system, as well as the school, employment, healthcare and welfare systems.
We are a sovereign country. Our laws are being violated and they need to be enforced. The Federal Government’s primary responsibility is to protect its citizens from enemies both foreign and domestic; something Obama is reluctant to do. President Obama refuses to secure our borders, endangering American citizens violating his oath of office. He is a polarizing and divisive figure pitting one group of Americans against another. He has travelled the country playing golf, attending fundraisers, going on vacation etc., yet, why has he not gone to Arizona, a state in crisis? Therefore, Governor Jan Brewer took steps necessary to protect Arizonans and she should be commended for it.
President Calderon of Mexico was upset with the law. I say, who cares? Mexico’s immigration laws are more restrictive than the USA and he should be asking himself why his people want to leave Mexico.
Obama says he is concerned the illegal immigrants may be discriminated against by law enforcement, yet he does not say anything about them possibly being exploited and paid slave wages. He’s afraid they will be racially profiled and asked for their papers. Then again, aren’t Amercan citizens required to show identification to cash a check, fly on a plane, rent a room, buy alcohol, drive etc? For those people who are against the Arizona law, that was put into place to help with the criminal activity being committed by illegal immigrants I ask them: Do you lock your doors?
The immigration problem can be solved by securing our borders, enforcing the immigration laws against employers and illegal immigrants, and deport those people that are here illegally. Then, the U.S. can work on setting up a better system giving people access to this great country legally. Obama mentions that is would be impossible to deport the 12 million (20 million) that are here illegally all at once. Who says they have to be rounded up and deported all at once? When they are captured, they can then be deported. They did not get here all at once; therefore, they do not necessarily have to be deported all at once. However, they must be deported, because you do not reward people for bad behavior. Obama acts like he’s concerned about illegal immigrants, but Obama and the Democrat/Statists look at these people only as VOTES.
Greg Zotta
Republican Candidate for MO Senate 22

President Barack Hussein Obama stated the Arizona Immigration Law is “misguided and divisive” and fans the flames of discontent. However, the people that are outraged over the new law are most likely illegal immigrants or members of LaRaza, whose goal is to reclaim the southwest states.
Some people may say that Obama contradicted himself during his speech on Immigration (Amnesty). I say he was outright lying and again pitting the Federal Government against Arizona.The citizens of that state are living in fear due to the criminal activity from illegal immigration. Illegal immigration overburdens our legal system, as well as the school, employment, healthcare and welfare systems.
We are a sovereign country. Our laws are being violated and they need to be enforced. The Federal Government’s primary responsibility is to protect its citizens from enemies both foreign and domestic; something Obama is reluctant to do. President Obama refuses to secure our borders, endangering American citizens violating his oath of office. He is a polarizing and divisive figure pitting one group of Americans against another. He has travelled the country playing golf, attending fundraisers, going on vacation etc., yet, why has he not gone to Arizona, a state in crisis? Therefore, Governor Jan Brewer took steps necessary to protect Arizonans and she should be commended for it.
President Calderon of Mexico was upset with the law. I say, who cares? Mexico’s immigration laws are more restrictive than the USA and he should be asking himself why his people want to leave Mexico.
Obama says he is concerned the illegal immigrants may be discriminated against by law enforcement, yet he does not say anything about them possibly being exploited and paid slave wages. He’s afraid they will be racially profiled and asked for their papers. Then again, aren’t Amercan citizens required to show identification to cash a check, fly on a plane, rent a room, buy alcohol, drive etc? For those people who are against the Arizona law, that was put into place to help with the criminal activity being committed by illegal immigrants I ask them: Do you lock your doors?
The immigration problem can be solved by securing our borders, enforcing the immigration laws against employers and illegal immigrants, and deport those people that are here illegally. Then, the U.S. can work on setting up a better system giving people access to this great country legally. Obama mentions that is would be impossible to deport the 12 million (20 million) that are here illegally all at once. Who says they have to be rounded up and deported all at once? When they are captured, they can then be deported. They did not get here all at once; therefore, they do not necessarily have to be deported all at once. However, they must be deported, because you do not reward people for bad behavior. Obama acts like he’s concerned about illegal immigrants, but Obama and the Democrat/Statists look at these people only as VOTES.
Greg Zotta
Republican Candidate for MO Senate 22

All these posts are good, but.....the fact of the matter is, obama is trying to ruin the white man's ability to survive. Why else would they want to let ILLEGALS into the US? To dilute the white man's majority. Why else did obama sign into law yesterday a provision in the health care bill that allows women NOT to have to report they've had abortions? That is truly health related....and let me get this straight....I pay into this obamacare bs and have to pay extra so women can have free abortions, but yet they don't have to report that on THEIR health account. Right. And why else did this administration pass legislation that forces companies to divulge what they pay to employees based on race and sex? Their supposed rationale? To make companies pay women the same as men. But there is no provision for the same scrutiny for women's or other minority companies maybe paying men less than they do other employees. This is an outrage. If you are a white male and you are sitting idly by thinking this won't affect you, then you deserve the hell we're all about to pay in this economy. obama won't secure the border because he hates white men. Period. And I defy ANYONE to challenge that fact. Think affirmative action. How is it possible that we have that program in place after about 60 years of affirmative action ruining the white man's chances as prosperity? It's time to stop ALL favoritism. Think about your vote in November....is it only me who understands that prior to this administration there were great times? That liberals years ago supposedly stuck up for the little guy? NOW they are intruding into EVERY freedom we all have. They are demons in sheep's clothing. Vote this garbage out. And if you voted for this dung of an administration, and you are out of work, how's that hope and change working for ya?

The First Amendment guarantees your freedom to say whatever you want to say. However, until you show some concrete evidence that Obama was born in Kenya, or that the federal government is using illegal immigrants to advance some agenda, or that they are here to "dilute" something, you are just venting. It could be that you lost your job, your house, or your wife divorced you... Whatever the case may be, venting is also covered by the First Amendment. However, since we are a nation of laws, If you want to accuse someone of wrongdoing, you must remember to provide evidence. Until then, Happy Venting!